§4.36.1ὁ δὲ Μαχατᾶς, πυθόμενος τὰ γεγονότα περὶ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους, ἧκε πάλιν ὑποστρέψας εἰς τὴν Σπάρτην, καὶ παρεκάλει τοὺς ἐφόρους καὶ τοὺς βασιλέας ἐξανεγκεῖν τοῖς Ἀχαιοῖς τὸν πόλεμον· §4.36.2μόνως γὰρ οὕτως ἔφη λῆξαι τὴν τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων φιλονεικίαν τῶν ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου διακοπτόντων τὴν πρὸς Αἰτωλοὺς συμμαχίαν τήν τε τῶν ἐν Αἰτωλίᾳ τὰ παραπλήσια τούτοις πραττόντων. §4.36.3πεισθέντων δὲ τῶν ἐφόρων καὶ τῶν βασιλέων, ὁ μὲν Μαχατᾶς ἐπανῆλθε, συντετελεσμένος τὴν πρόθεσιν διὰ τὴν ἄγνοιαν τῶν συμπραττόντων, §4.36.4ὁ δὲ Λυκοῦργος ἀναλαβὼν τοὺς στρατιώτας καί τινας τῶν πολιτικῶν ἐνέβαλεν εἰς τὴν Ἀργείαν, ἀφυλάκτως διακειμένων εἰς τέλος τῶν Ἀργείων διὰ τὴν προϋπάρχουσαν κατάστασιν. §4.36.5καὶ Πολίχναν μὲν καὶ Πρασίας καὶ Λεύκας καὶ Κύφαντα προσπεσὼν ἄφνω κατέσχε· Γλυμπέσι δὲ καὶ Ζάρακι προσπεσὼν ἀπέπεσε. §4.36.6τούτου δὲ ταῦτα πράξαντος, ἐπεκήρυξαν τὸ λάφυρον οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι κατὰ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν.
Machatas, having heard of the events concerning the Lacedaemonians, returned again to Sparta, and urged the ephors and the kings to declare war against the Achaeans; for he said that only in this way would the animosity of the Lacedaemonians cease—both of those who were by every means trying to break off the alliance with the Aetolians, and of those in Aetolia who were doing things similar to these. When the ephors and the kings were persuaded, Machatas returned, having accomplished his purpose through the ignorance of his cooperators. But Lycurgus, taking his soldiers and some of the citizens, invaded Argolis, while the Argives were entirely off their guard owing to the previously existing state of affairs. And falling upon Polichna, Prasiae, Leucae, and Cyphanta, he suddenly captured them; but falling upon Glympeis and Zarax, he was repulsed. When he had done this, the Lacedaemonians proclaimed the right of plunder against the Achaeans.
ἔπεισαν δὲ καὶ τοὺς Ἠλείους οἱ περὶ τὸν Μαχατᾶν, παραπλήσια λέγοντες ἅπερ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους, ἐξενεγκεῖν τοῖς Ἀχαιοῖς τὸν πόλεμον. §4.36.7παραδόξως δὲ καὶ κατὰ νοῦν τοῖς Αἰτωλοῖς τῶν πραγμάτων προκεχωρηκότων, οὗτοι μὲν εὐθαρσῶς ἐνέβαινον εἰς τὸν πόλεμον, οἱ δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ τἀναντία· Φίλιππος μὲν γάρ, §4.36.8ἐφʼ ᾧ τὰς ἐλπίδας εἶχον, ἀκμὴν ἐγίνετο περὶ παρασκευήν, Ἠπειρῶται δʼ ἔμελλον πολεμεῖν, §4.36.9Μεσσήνιοι δʼ ἡσυχίαν εἶχον, Αἰτωλοὶ δέ, προσειληφότες τὴν Ἠλείων καὶ Λακεδαιμονίων ἄγνοιαν, πανταχόθεν περιεῖχον αὐτοὺς τῷ πολέμῳ.
And Machatas and his associates also persuaded the Eleans, saying much the same as they had to the Lacedaemonians, to declare war against the Achaeans. Since affairs had turned out for the Aetolians unexpectedly and according to their wish, they entered upon the war with high courage, but the Achaeans did the opposite; for Philip, on whom they had placed their hopes, was still busy with preparations, while the Epirots delayed in entering the war, and the Messenians remained quiet; but the Aetolians, having taken advantage of the ignorance of the Eleans and Lacedaemonians, hemmed them in with war on all sides.